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OLDHAM & DISTRICT RIDING CLUBOLDHAM & DISTRICT RIDING CLUBOLDHAM & DISTRICT RIDING CLUBOLDHAM & DISTRICT RIDING CLUB NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2010NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2010NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2010NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2010

Who’s Who at ODRC Chair Person Sue Hollingworth 07970 857739 Vice Chair Steve Hopkinson 07984 380269 Treasurer Lisa Wake 01457 839919 / 07877 863523 Secretary Abi Atherton 01457 810211 Membership Lesley Illingworth 0161 785 8989 Instruction Krystina Bamber/Lauren Rothwell

07970 813193 / 01457 879549 Friezland User Group Sue Hollingworth/Arthur Prowse 07970 857739 / 01457 870407 Teams Vicky Hollingworth 07970 857739 Northern Liaison Group Representative Arthur Prowse 01457 870407 Newsletter Editor Minda Wigley 01457 870421 mindaHGF@live.co.uk Bridleways Peter Carter 01457 873344 Website Andy Morrison 01457 820524 silverhillstables@btinternet.com Social Secretary Amanda Godwin 07754 742232 amandagodwin@aol.com Child Protection Officer Amanda Godwin 07754 742232 amandagodwin@aol.com

Show Organisers Members Only Novice Lauren Rothwell/Steve Hopkinson

01457 879549 / 0161 624 5269 Show Jumping vacant Showing & Working Hunter Tracy Shaw, Norma ?, Judy Worthington

07930 924369 / Dressage Lesley Illingworth/Bridget Tibbot

0161 789 8989 / 07814 327016 Combined Training Alana Bennett/Denzil Edwards 07745 739044 / 07899 054799 Sponsored Ride Peter Carter 01457 873344 peter-s-carter@tiscali.co.uk Riding Club Camp Sue Hollingworth/Minda Wigley 07970 857739 / 01457 870421

Other Committee Members: Tim Partridge 01457 87892 Deb Prowse 01457 870407 Caroline Coldwell 07789 490060

From the Editor:

Hello everyone. A very happy New Year to you all, and we hope you all have an enjoyable and successful showing season in 2010.

Welcome too and thank you to those of you who, at the AGM, offered to serve on the Riding Club Committee this year for the first time (and to those who are continuing to give of their time and efforts on our behalf) – your efforts are very much appreciated.

You may have noticed from the “Who’s Who” column that we are in urgent need of a volunteer(s) to run the Show Jumping shows. If you would be willing to take on the job (and we will do our best to recruit helpers to support you) please ring the Chairman, Sue Hollingworth on 07970 857739. She will be very pleased to receive your call (not to say ecstatic!)

There are plenty of things for you to take note of in this issue:

• Send in your Membership Renewal form (pages 2 &12)

• Put the new Show Season dates in your diary (page 2)

• Book your place on the 2010 Riding Club Camp (pages 8, 10 & 11)

• Find out who is on the new Riding Club

Committee (“Who’s Who” column)

• Read all about Presentation Night (page 7)

• Read about the exploits of some other Riding Club members, their horses or their neighbours (pages 3-5 & 8)

• Learn about the new provisions for Child Protection at all British riding clubs (page 3)

It is the editor’s privilege to make the occasional comment and I feel compelled to express my anger and frustration about the compulsory CRB checks being introduced for Riding Clubs Committees. I believe it will do nothing more than create the illusion that children will be safe when in fact it will achieve nothing at all. A CRB check is only of any use if anyone has been charged with child abuse, and even then it’s only as good as the day on which it was carried out. So what does it prove? Is it just me who finds all this child protection administration utter nonsense, when in reality children are at greatest risk from their own family and relations? I fear the end result will be that there will be no volunteers to run clubs shortly if we are all regarded as potential criminals.

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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Sunday 4 April Sponsored Ride to

Hollingworth Lake Sunday 11 April Combined Training Sunday 25 April Members Only

Novice Sunday 9 May Showing & Working

Hunter Sunday 23 May Show Jumping Sunday 6 June Dressage Sunday 27 June Showing & Working

Hunter Sunday 11 July Show Jumping Sunday 25 July Dressage Sunday 8 August Combined Training Sunday 29 August Showing & Working

Hunter Sunday 12 Sept Show Jumping Sunday 26 Sept Dressage Sunday 3 October Combined Training Northern Liaison Group – Team Events Indoor Show Jumping Sunday 28 February - Osbaldeston Festival of Hunter 24 April - Rochdale Showing 5th June Show Jumping 19th June - Lakes One Day Event 27th June - Kelsall Hill Dressage 17th July – Rochdale Friezland User Group Fundraising Events Family Horse Show 21 August Annual Horsemen’s Carol Service 11 December Trec 18 & 19 September from Friezland (Orienteering on the Saturday, Obstacles on the Sunday)

Membership renewal time Yes – it’s that time of year again. You will find attached (if you receive your Newsletter by post) the 2010 Membership Application / Renewal Form. If you receive your Newsletter by e-mail the Membership form will come by post together with the Riding Club Camp Application form. So don’t take too long to return your Membership form to Lesley Illingworth to be sure of receiving future Newsletters and the 2010 Show Schedule. It seems that we are still having the perennial problem of struggling to find enough volunteers to help at shows. It is, as you probably already know, a condition of membership that every member helps out at one show per season. As 2009 was particularly difficult owing to the shortage of helpers the Committee feels it necessary to try something a little more persuasive to those errant members who persist in avoiding helping. Anyone who fails to help during the year will not be eligible for any prizes on Presentation Night. So be warned – if this is you, please mend your ways! – and make sure you put your name in the “Helpers Register” that will be in the Secretary’s tent at every show.

Stewards needed

Whenever we send teams to the events organized by the NLG (see opposite) we are required to send 3 stewards to help in the running of the event. If you are willing to offer your services on one of the dates listed please ring Sue or Vicky Hollingworth on 07970 957739. Stewarding is a very enjoyable and satisfying day out, and those on the ODRC teams will be very grateful for your support – because without you the team will not be allowed to compete.

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NEW CHILD PROTECTION GUIDELINES

FOR RIDING CLUBs FOR 2010

Just to keep everyone informed and updated about these new guidelines. To keep in line with the new directives from the government this year to associations and clubs regarding child protection, the British Equestrian Federation have issued guidelines for Riding Clubs & Pony Clubs regarding good practice. This is for the protection of all children, young people & vulnerable adults, and also the people who arrange, instruct or organise the events. They have asked Riding Clubs to nominate a Child Protection Officer who will be there as a point of reference and contact within the committee of the club. I attended training in November 2009 together with Sue Hollingworth & Lauren Rothwell and volunteered to take on this rôle for our club. Although it may seem very unnecessary, tedious and invasive to have to adhere to these enforced guidelines, the facts are that for years the club has already been using the basic principles of these new guidelines and very good practice! So in reality very little will change as to how we as a club organise events, ourselves or manage young people at events, training etc. It has been suggested within the Government's new Vetting & Barring Scheme, which is not yet fully operational, that all persons involved with any club, in any capacity, would require clearance. This massive job is still thankfully open to debate and most likely will never happen at all!! However, our committee members are required to have a standard Criminal Records Bureau clearance check and, being conscientious in maintaining the best standards and environment for

everyone within Oldham Riding Club we will be doing that. This is just for information and if anyone has any concerns or would like any further information or a chat, just contact me. Have a great 2010 season and hopefully we can finally put the sledges away!! Amanda Godwin 07754 742232

The joys of Dressage I awoke on the morning of the ODRC dressage to the blaring of my alarm clock that was flashing 5.45am, I was convinced it was broken when I looked through the curtains to discover it was still the middle of the night! It was pitch black and miserable and I was starting to regret offering to take my friend Laura and her very sprightly and at times unpredictable 5-year old to their first show. After a quick coffee to wake me up I set off to the yard all dressed up for winter, still rubbing sleep from my eyes. I arrived and opened the barn door to find every horse still in bed and severely unimpressed as the strip lights lit the gloom like a Broadway show. One by one a grumpy face appeared over each stable door demanding to know what time I thought it was. After we had all had a bit of breakfast and come round slightly Laura and I set about scrubbing Perrywinkle (Perry to her friends) and Perky (Aka Bombay Dreams) who had both made it their mission to get every square inch covered in poo and soggy “Ned’s Bed”. My horse, Perky, won hands down beating the grey by managing to get it in both ears as well - 10/10 for effort! Once the girls were shining like new pins we hit the road for Friezland at 7.45 am with Perry on board, with thick fog making the motorway perilous and our top speed

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(the joys of dressage contd)

5 mph. We came over Saddleworth Moor with me guessing where the road was and Laura praying she would be able to see one end of the arena from the other! As we reached Delph and discovered the demisters in the wagon actually DID work we were very relieved to see most of the remaining fog was inside the wagon, not out.

We arrived at Friezland to find Tara and Roger all set up and raring to go, the judge on time and the first competitor warming up. The atmosphere was wonderfully relaxed and more to the point so was Laura’s horse, Perry. We parked opposite the booking-in wagon so Perry could watch the activity. All we needed was a coffee and it would be the perfect start to the competition.

Off I trotted into the wagon, kettle in hand, to the camping stove which I can never remember how to work (this is normally my mum’s domain but as she was sunning herself on a Tunisian beach I had to guess how to work it!) In went the gas canister, I could hear the gas escaping - that’s a good sign, right? The gas has to escape to light, so I pressed the ignition switch and nothing happened but the gas was still escaping so there was no problem there. I tried the ignition again. Nothing. And again and again and finally……Whoosh, the whole kettle set alight. After much flapping and dancing I turned it off… and tried again, Whoosh, same thing, flambée’d kettle.

In defeat I wandered over to the Matthew’s wagon trying to scrounge a brew with my sorry tale of gas and flame to an astounded Roger who informed me the escaping gas wasn’t, as I had thought, a good sign and I could have actually blown my little wagon up!

With the brew abandoned we set about tacking up the now quite excited Perry with the intention of letting her take in and get used to the atmosphere and new sights. My stomach was churning and I

felt sick as I tacked her up. Not so long ago she was a master of the rodeo fly-buck-&-deposit-rider-in-nearest-bush move and although I didn’t have to get on her, I was nervous. First hurdle, exiting the wagon. She is an eternal show off and had only been in once before so I cleared the vicinity and opened the partition. She very kindly let me walk down the ramp before throwing herself off from the top as though she was descending the Derby bank! Amidst the clatter of hooves on cobbles and ooh’s and aahh’s and the odd expletive, I managed to catch a look of horror on Roger’s face as he thought she was going to clear the gap in between our wagons and go for tea with them!

Once down, however, she stood - little “butter wouldn’t melt” - and after 10 minutes warming up on the field Perry was an old pro, calm and relaxed and ready for the test and my stomach could return to normal. I watched with pride as she stood quietly waiting to go into the arena and I was delighted after she had completed her test with only tiny spooks at the dressage boards and a little backing off to gain a respectable 59% for her first ever dressage test. Laura and Perry had not even heard of dressage a month ago and Laura not only had to learn the test in 4 weeks but also learn where the letters in the arena were, as well as schooling and educating Perry that rodeo is not an acceptable form of spook. A huge well done to them both!

With the day a raging success for us so far and the gas having dispelled from the living area of the wagon I managed to clip the gas canister in correctly and make a well deserved coffee, uneventfully, in the still intact wagon.

We set off on the drive back to Huddersfield very pleased with Perry’s behaviour, a clear indication that Laura’s hard work is paying off, and were ready to pick Perky up for the Elementary and Medium classes. But that’s another story!

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Diary of a really hard dressager After a quick dash home we swapped Perry for Perky, posh name Bombay Dreams, mostly nicknamed ‘supermare’ occasionally called ‘stupid orange g*t’ (but only on a bad day.) We had been persuaded (or was it goaded??) 3 weeks earlier into entering the Medium class by our very own Medium-dressager, Andy Morrison and thus began the obsession with Medium 71. I can now recite it backwards in my sleep, and often did according to my boyfriend! The occasional text would come through telling me how amazingly well Josh (Andy’s horse) was doing the test, or parts of it, sending me into massive bouts of OCD (obsessive- compusive disorder) schooling sessions and over-analysis of every single movement. I am never nervous competing Perky as she is an absolute professional but at ODRC in front of all my friends it is nerve- wracking and I was shaking as I got on her for the Elementary. There were 4 of us competing, all of the same ability, with relatively experienced horses; Andy on the very experienced Josh, Lauren Rothwell on the very flashy Pasaka, Katie Stafford on the gorgeous Big Mac and myself. As we worked-in on the field I was concentrating so hard on loosening Perky on the uneven ground and sticky patches that I blocked out everyone around me out. It was only when I had given it up as a bad job and was walking round that I noticed grimaces of concentration on everyone else’s face and sighs of exasperation as the horses tripped and slipped over and over again. With the working-in abandoned we began to chat amongst ourselves and the nerves started to evaporate as one by one we entered the arena taking maximum

advantage of the time in the arena before the bell rang. I wish I could give you a comprehensive run down of each test to tell you where we nicked marks and who was better at what but unfortunately I was faffing about and talking whilst the others rode and I was last in. Perky by this time was convinced she had finished and I was pleading with her to just pull something out of the bag then we could go home to roll in the mud (her not me). Once we were in the arena on a much more consistent surface she felt amazing and the only mistakes made were mine, circles too big and a shocking handbrake turn up the centre line at the end! She scored 7’s, 8’s and even a 9 for free walk! I have never scored like that in an Elementary test and was amazingly proud of her - especially as I have produced her myself in 18 months from Prelim to Elementary and now she was dipping her hooves into Medium. I am really reaping the rewards of my hard work and dedication now and no one believes me that she used to be VERY naughty and more than a little scary! We won the Elementary on a fantastic score of 70% with Andy taking 2nd place on 65% although with no time to check the board my answer to Andy’s congratulations was “Why? What have I done?” The subsequent squeal of delight made Perky leap back in horror, with a “What has this squealing monster done with my mum?” look on her face! With no time and hardly any point to go and practise our half-pass and travers, we were straight in for the Medium 71. It’s a fantastic flowing test that I really enjoyed riding. However, always the perfectionist, I think I was guilty of trying too hard and putting a little too much pressure on Perky, making her tense and

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(diary of a really hard dressager - contd)

irritable. Despite this we managed to just pip Andy to the post, beating him by 1 mark!

From start to finish it was a very enjoyable day, packed full of laughs. Tara and Roger did a great job of running the competition and Tara’s maths proved to be above average, despite her worriedly checking everything 3 times, with no mistakes going on the board or wrong results (will she ever live that down??)

Becky Starling

Forthcoming attractions

Instruction Coming soon - some exciting clinics and lessons in show jumping, dressage, working hunter and eventing. In future Newsletters Lauren Rothwell and Krystina Bamber will be providing details of these events. Details will also appear on the website.

Social events Watch this space for details of a Welcome Evening and Swap Shop to be held in March for all members but particularly to welcome to any new members who would like to come along and meet the Committee and other members of the Club. Further details will be in the next Newsletter and on the website.

Sponsored ride – 4 april The first event of the season is the annual Sponsored Ride very ably organized by Peter Carter. This year starting at the Horse & Jockey (former pub on Huddersfield Road, Delph) the ride takes you to Hollingworth Lake and back. Peter will provide further details and sponsorship forms in the next Newsletter but don’t waste any time while you are waiting - start thinking who you can persuade to sponsor you!

Emergency winter transport Emergency winter transport Emergency winter transport Emergency winter transport

plan?plan?plan?plan? During the severe snow (which some of us were struggling with for 5 weeks) it occurred to us that there might be horsey emergencies occurring somewhere within the ODRC geographical area - horse owners in a state of panic because their horse needed to be taken to hospital but they were unable to get transport to the stables. When this suggestion was made to me it brought back distressing memories for me personally as it was in February 2009 that I had my emergency run to hospital with two horses just as the snow was going. If it had happened one day earlier I couldn’t have got the horsebox out of our yard and I can’t bear to think how I would have felt if I couldn’t have got them to hospital. The idea has been put forward that the Riding Club should have a list of people who have horse transport which is kept on or near a main road and who could therefore still get out despite the snow. These people would be prepared to make themselves available to take horses to hospital in a dire emergency when snow prevented all other alternatives. Anyone who is in this fortunate situation and who would be willing to put their name on this list might be called on to get as near as possible to the stables of the “emergency horse”, and its owner could lead it (if at all possible) to that spot, and then have the chance of getting the horse to hospital. Please let me know if you think this would be a good idea, and if you also happen to be in the fortunate position of having transport near a main road, please ring me with your details. Minda Wigley 01457 870421

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ODRC Presentation night ODRC Presentation night ODRC Presentation night ODRC Presentation night

Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday 5555thththth Dec Dec Dec Decemberemberemberember

Presentation night this year was much later then in recent times. This was partly in an effort to make a bit of a Christmas do out of it and partly about availability of the venue! Once again though, Saddleworth Cricket Club proved a perfect venue for the presentations (even if Krystina Bamber and Katie Stafford did win every single award!). Your £10 entry got you a choice of hot meals, Christmas crackers on the tables and enough party poppers to make a small bomb beneath your neighbour’s seat and scare the living daylights out of them (if that’s your bag). So the format was: do the mingling, presentations (once again glamorously conducted by Vicky Tibbot), hot buffet, raffle with surprise guest, disco, karaoke, home for tea and medals. The evening started with an address from the Chair Person (Sue Hollingworth) who thanked us for all for our contribution to a successful year but appealed to us all for next year to get more help at the shows (nothing new there then). Then Vicky did what she does best (after instruction) and conducted the presentations - where award after award went to either Krystina Bamber or Katie Stafford (mind you, all the little Tibbots didn’t do so badly!). As Vicky said though, very nice to see fresh faces winning, to some degree it does show a healthy club with new faces arriving. Well done to all, and if you didn’t win this year – try harder next year! The buffet was a choice of hot turkey or beef with salad, pasta or jacket spud. Did you see how I wrote “OR” there? Some people didn’t take it as that - they thought it said “AND”. Turkey AND beef AND salad AND jacket spud AND pasta (STEVE HOPKINSON of particular note,

was he filling his pockets for his chickens?). Santa made a guest appearance this year, having come straight from Korea where he had been buying microchips ‘n stuff and conducted the raffle in a very jovial style (despite a good level of heckling). He also proved to be the biggest pie muncher in the room! Ho! Ho! Ho! Later on during the Karaoke I’m sure I heard Santa singing some meatloaf but I looked up and realised my mistake when I saw Wayne and Amanda Godwin giving it some! So it was another good night. Well done to Abi Atherton and Debs Prowse for organizing, Amanda Godwin and Lauren Rothwell on bin collection and to us all for getting stuck in and having a very competitive year. I think we entered our biggest number of teams throughout the year across all disciplines. Have a happy New Year from me, don’t stop schooling. Lauren Rothwell and Krystina Bamber are going to be organising some group lessons and it will soon be the Members Only Novice Show!

Andy Morrison

Small ads

Stable/part livery available on small, quiet, private yard in Diggle. Would suit mature person who enjoys a peaceful environment with a well-behaved gelding. Stunning location, lovely off road hacking, access to the Pennine Bridleway, close to arenas & instruction. Spacious 15’ x 15’ newly built stable, with matting, separate tack & feed storage. Year round turnout (weather permiting!) Price for stable with haylage inclusive £45 p.w. Part Livery prices available on request. Sorry no dogs or children. Call 07754 742232 for further details.

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RRRRiding club camp 2010iding club camp 2010iding club camp 2010iding club camp 2010

If you have never been to Camp before then don’t miss the chance to go this year! Anyone who has been to Camp in previous years will tell you what a fantastic time they’ve had, what a tremendous challenge it is, how thrilling it can be to achieve things with your horsey partner you never thought possible. The 2010 Camp Application form is attached to this Newsletter (if you receive it by post – but if you receive the Newsletter by e-mail the Camp Application form will arrive by post along with the Membership Application / Reneweal form). Remember that Camp is only open to Club members so make sure you renew your membership at the same time as you send in your Camp application! In past years we have had 3 different instructors for the three disciplines (dressage, showjumping and cross country). This year we are asking Campers to indicate whether they would prefer to have all their tuition from a single instructor or whether they would prefer to stay as we have in previous years and have 3 different instructors, one for each discipline. We will decide on which method to use depending on how the majority feel. So remember – fill in the form now and avoid disappointment. Competition for places can get quite intense – so avoid the risk of missing out! Sue Hollingworth & Minda Wigley Camp Organisers

Items for the newsletter? Please e-mail to mindaHGF@live.co.uk or post to Minda Wigley, Higher Grange Farm, Millcroft Lane, Delph, Oldham OL3 5UX

You may have missed this article from the Oldham Evening Chronicle on 7 January about two ODRC members – John Bullen & Arthur Prowse::

John praised for his freezing

vigil

Reporter: Ken Bennett Date online: 07/01/2010

“A doctor praised a retired businessman who

stayed at the side of a seriously injured woman

for two hours on snow-covered moorland.

And today, neighbours who helped support 60-

year-old John Bullen throughout his vigil in sub-

zero temperatures, described him as a hero.

Mr Bullen, from Uppermill, came to the rescue

after hearing the woman’s screams coming from

a field more than 200 yards from the nearest

road. The woman was returning a horse to its

stable off Running Hill Gate when it kicked out

and she suffered a serious compound fracture to

her left leg. Mr Bullen, who was working in a

near-by stable, rushed to the scene and alerted

emergency services.

His friend, Arthur Prowse from Grasscroft, told

neighbours and they scrambled through deep

snow to the scene with blankets and a hot water

bottle. Mr Bullen comforted the injured woman

as Oldham Mountain Rescue Team, including

the team’s doctor, Andrew Taylor, and two

paramedics, tended to the woman.

Dr Taylor said: “Mr Bullen did a truly fantastic

job. He never left the distressed lady and kept

talking to her while we carried out our

examinations.” And neighbour Mrs Rosemary

Brierley said: “John is a real hero. He must have

been in the field for two hours but he never

complained. His only concern was the lady’s

welfare.” Mr Bullen said: “The lady was in terrible

pain.Our neighbours were a great help.”

After being stabilised the injured woman was

taken to Royal Oldham Hospital.”